Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming (Programming Series) [Paperback]

James Levenick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1584504269 | ISBN-13: 978-1584504269 | Publication Date: September 8, 2005 | Edition: 1

For novice programmers, finding an interesting, practical Java programming reference that doesn't overwhelm them with details and complexity is difficult. Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming is an easy-to-follow textbook that guides the beginning programmer step-by-step through the process of learning Java. The main obstacle to learning object-oriented programming is the volume of interdependent detail that needs to be learned before even the simplest program can be created. Using a spiral approach, this text eliminates extraneous details early on and stresses object concepts that will provide a basis for students to become expert programmers. Classes, objects, and working programs are introduced at the outset, and programming is presented as extended problem solving, making it easier to understand. Class design and graphical user interfaces are introduced early, but most of the detail is postponed until after the student has a better grasp of objects, classes, and inheritance. Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming is the perfect text for anyone new to Java who wants a comprehensive, easy-to-comprehend reference.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Levenick (Salem, OR) is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He received his PhD in Computer and Communication Sciences from the University of Michigan, and his research interests include artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Product Details

• Paperback: 394 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1 edition (September 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584504269
• ISBN-13: 978-1584504269
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Approach I've seen, November 16, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming (Programming Series) (Paperback)

This is the first Java book that I've been able to read. The author starts off saying 'Why write yet another introductory Java book?' Good Question. The answers he said were that existing Java books were simply too tedious to read (I agree.), second, they immediately start talking about things like object orientation and classes which are useless at the beginning and are treated in those books almost like a mantra.

This book starts out writing a program. This gets you familiar with the constructs of the language before giving meaningless (at this time) definitions. In writing the program it says you have to have a bunch of words that are required, just put them in and we'll talk about them later.

The author says that he has had better experience with this approach than with other books. As one who learned programming in procedural languages more years ago than I like to remember, this approach certainly made sense to me. I'm still not a Java expert, but a lot better than I was.

The CD that comes with the book includes both the Sun Java 2 platform and the NetBeans IDE. All that you need to begin programming.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Undistingushed, July 12, 2007

By 

John M. Hunt (Lookout Mountain, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming (Programming Series) (Paperback)

I teach Java at the undergraduate level so I am always on the lookout for new books. It would be unfair to say it was a bad book, but I certainly don't believe its a good one. As the author points out on the first page there are plenty of other intro Java books; however, I feel he fails to make a case for adding this one.

The author states that he had three reasons for writing the book, I will take them up in term before adding my own criticisms:
1) He thinks current books are tedious to read - here the author has a point and has made some improvement. His prose style is breezy and easy to read. It's very conversational and after reading it I think I would enjoy taking a class with him or for that matter having a beer with him. His personality comes out and that's a good thing, particularly among intro Java books that do usually read as if they were written by committee.
2) He thinks current books do not get into objects quickly enough. He says that he is unable to find books that start with objects. My problem has been that I can't find books that don't. I give him credit for following through on his convictions. This book is certainly as object first as a book can be. The problem is that he provides no understanding of what an object is or why one would use them on a conceptual level. I admit that motivating objects the first week of an intro course is a tough nut to crack. But if you believe objects first is the right way to go, as the author does, then it is a hurdle that you have to overcome. This book doesn't. We are left only with the syntactically correct use of keywords like class and new and no understanding of where we are going.
3) he believes a modern IDE should be used from the beginning. Ok, but other than an appendix and including it on the CD I don't see any evidence that the IDE effects the book.
He closes his intro by mentioning that his students like the book. Here I suspect he hits the classic problem of educational research of being unable to separate different factors. I suspect it has a lot more to do with him than the book.

So what do I find wrong with the book?
First, the examples are undistinguished. He introduces classes by discussing an bank account class with a with get, set and withdrawal method. This is developed into a bit more complete bank example after taking time out for misc. applets. I don't find it very interesting.
Second, advanced topics are introduced but breezed over. Example, a multi-threaded application is done in 10pages in chapter 9.
Third, basic topics are postponed, and then breezed over. Example, arrays are introduced in chapter 11 (two chapters after multi-threading) and receive 4 pages of coverage.

IMHO - the author's quest to find a good intro Java textbook remains unfinished.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide, October 8, 2005

By 

Charlton Smith (Bellevue, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Simply Java: An Introduction to Java Programming (Programming Series) (Paperback)

Learning JAVA can be a very steep learning curve at first, but this book takes a great approach to making it as easy and painless as possbile, mainly due to the Authors genius.